Page 6 of The Uncouth Duke of Longford
“Well, you should. This is vitally important to me!”
Rachel sighed heavily, her whole body still weary from the ball the previous evening. She had been asked to dance on three occasions – much to her mother’s delight – and though she had danced them all without difficulty, she had found the whole experience to be utterly draining.
Bettina, evidently, had not.
“We are to be walking through the park for the fashionable hour today,” Bettina declared, her voice echoing around Rachel’s bedchamber. “I require your new gloves.”
Rachel blinked, pushing the sleep from her eyes. “I beg your pardon?”
“I require your new gloves. I have just inspected mine and there is a slight error in one of the seams.”
“That will not be noticeable,” Rachel protested, pushing herself up to sitting. “I do not think that you require my gloves, Bettina.”
“I do.”
Rachel took in a deep breath and then lifted her chin. “You are not taking my gloves.”
Bettina ignored this and began to rifle through Rachel’s drawers, though Rachel, seeing this, pushed herself out of bed and hurried towards her sister.
“Stop.” Closing the drawer quickly – and narrowly avoiding her sister’s fingers – Rachel pushed herself in front of her and then folded her arms. “You are not going to take my gloves, Bettina. You have more than one pair of gloves of your own.”
“But I have nonewgloves,” Bettina replied, sharply. “Therefore, I require your new gloves in place of mine.”
“No.”
Bettina lifted one eyebrow and stepped back. “I shall simply go to Mama and ask her.”
“Go, then.” Rachel did not move, fully aware that her sister might strike her again but even if she did, Rachel had no intention of removing herself from where she stood. Bettina might be more forceful, might have more determination than Rachel herself but Rachel had more inward strength. She was not about to permit her sister to demand yet something more from her even if it was a simple pair of gloves.
“You are being foolish, Rachel.” Bettina’s tone had become hard, her gaze cold. “My requirement is greater than yours.”
“Is it?” Rachel lifted her chin a notch. “What requirement do you have that is greater than mine?”
Bettina’s lip curled. “Did you not see the difference between you and me last evening? Did you not see that there were so many gentlemen seekingmeout rather than you?”
The pain that struck Rachel’s heart was great though she kept her expression as clear as she could. “That is because our parents decided that there were particular gentlemen which you ought to be introduced to rather than I, which is just as it ought to be,” she said, firmly. “You are the eldest so therefore,you ought to wed first. That does not mean that there is any requirement for me to give you what is mine!”
“It is not as though anyone will notice what gloves you wear!” Bettina exploded, taking a step closer as though to forcibly push Rachel to one side and to look through the chest of drawers regardless. “I, however, will have many people looking both at and to me and I require those gloves!”
Rachel shook her head, her hands clasping tightly into fists. Bettina let out a scream of frustration and, after a few moments, turned and stomped out of the room, though the door was left wide open. Rachel heard the way her sister screamed for their mother and, instantly, turned so that she might find her new gloves.
“Miss Grifford, I must apologise.”
Rachel glanced over her shoulder just as the maid brought in the breakfast tray, setting it down on the table by the fireplace. “I didn’t know you were awake and – ”
“Here.” Rachel handed the maid her gloves, seeing the maid’s eyes flare wide. “You must take these away. Hide them somewhere for me. I will require them later but my sister…” She caught herself before she spoke, instantly realizing that the maid – indeed, every single servant in the house – would know exactly what was going on regardless as to whether she said anything or not. “My sister is seeking my gloves for herself. I do not wish her to have them and so, I beg of you to hide them until I require them again.”
The maid’s eyes rounded. “I –”
“I trust you, Nelly,” Rachel continued, hearing her sister’s voice still echoing through the house. “Please, do as I ask and do it quickly.”
Her lady’s maid nodded, though her eyes were still wide. Reaching out, she took Rachel’s gloves and then, after another glance towards Rachel, hurried from the room. Rachel let out aslow breath of relief and, picking up the tray, chose to return to her bed with it rather than sit in her night things by the fireplace. It was too warm for a morning fire but all the same, Rachel considered that the warmth of her bed was a little too appealing to be ignored. A self-satisfied smile spread across her face as she settled back against the cushions, knowing that at least in this, her sister was not about to have any success. She wouldnothave Rachel’s gloves, even if she wanted them and even if their mother demanded it from her, Rachel could simply say that she did not know where they were.
No doubt there would be consequences to her actions now. No doubt there would be a great deal of screaming and shouting and Rachel had every expectation that her mother would send for a new pair of gloves for Bettina rather than endure her fussing.But,she thought to herself, picking up her morning chocolate to drink,she shall not have my gloves. This time, I have won.
“My dear Rachel!”
Rachel smiled warmly as she caught sight of Miss Renfrew. “Good afternoon, Grace. How pleasant an afternoon it is!”
